What to anticipate with the new digital SAT

Since the new SAT will be available in the United States in early 2024, it is crucial for current high school students who want to take the exam in 2024 and later to be aware of the changes and how they will impact their test-taking approach.

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It’s All Digital

The digital SAT would be entirely administered online, as the name would imply. You will read and respond to questions using the Bluebook app as opposed to filling in Scantron pages. To take the official test, you may use a laptop or tablet from school or your own device; however, smartphones are not authorized. The College Board has said that, should the need arise, they will give test-takers smartphones. It’s crucial to remember that, absent authorized accommodations, there is no assurance that you will be able to use a charging outlet. If you are bringing your own smartphone, you must ensure that it is charged in advance and that the Bluebook software is installed and current.

Two to three weeks following the date of your exam, your score will be accessible on the College Board website. Your score will be sent to the schools you specified when you enrolled for the test, and they will have it within ten days. It will take one to three weeks to transmit your SAT results to any more colleges.

The Exam Is Flexible

The verbal and math sections will each be covered in two consecutive modules. The student’s achievement in Module 1 will determine the questions in Module 2. Put differently, you will receive a more challenging version of Module 2 if you perform well on Module 1. But don’t give up! You can only get an exceptional score if you finish the advanced version!

It’s Condensed

The digital SAT will now last two hours and fourteen minutes, with 64 minutes allotted for verbal and 70 minutes for math. This is a significant shift. It used to be a three-hour test. Though there are less questions, each one DOES count far more, so don’t let that comfort you!

A New Section on Verbal Communication

The Verbal component now includes both writing and reading lessons. There are now word choice, grammar, and punctuation questions strewn throughout the reading comprehension sections. The digital SAT will nonetheless assess the same fundamental writing and reading abilities in spite of these modifications.

The reading comprehension questions are arguably where the differences are most noticeable. Long paragraphs with 10–11 matching questions will no longer be seen on the SAT. Rather, a brief piece (about a paragraph of three to four sentences) and a single related question will be sent to you. Occasionally, you’ll receive an outline in the form of bullet points or a lyrical piece in addition to writing. Additionally, multi-step evidence questions will no longer be present, despite comparable question forms.

The language and writing problems change in a very little way. While “NO CHANGE” is typically the first option on the existing SAT, it is not available on the new, digital SAT. The new SAT leaves words blank and requires you to write them in, rather than emphasizing text and recommending changes.

This may seem like a small modification, but it has a tremendous impact on the approach. We are frequently trained to identify issues and fix them. This is not an option when there is a blank spot. I’m urging students to “plug in” option A automatically as a quick fix to mimic the previous question format and make it easier for them to identify issues, if any.

The Changes in the Math Section

The most noticeable modification to the Math part is the elimination of the non-calculator segment. Math is now separated into two modules, similar to the Verbal section, and calculators are allowed for every question, rather than having calculator and non-calculator sections. There will also be a Desmos calculator and reference page within the testing application itself. The positioning of the free-response questions is another modification. In the original form, these problems were toward the conclusion; however, in the digital version, they are spread out among both math modules.

Conceptually, there isn’t much of a difference: plane and coordinate geometry, functions (linear, quadratic, rational, and exponential), probability and statistics, and a little bit of degree and radian trigonometry. However, since they may be so challenging, the final few math questions can catch some pupils off guard!

Exam Preparation Has Modified

Naturally, SAT exam preparation has evolved as well. With a College Board account, students may use the Bluebook app to access preview materials and four SAT practice examinations. Because the sample tools resemble the actual test, they’re an excellent method to get a sense of the format and kinds of questions you’ll see.

The official practice examinations have restricted availability even though they are timed and evaluated similarly to the actual test. These are best used for working with a tutor or for diagnostic purposes; do not use them for leisurely study. Take them just when you are ready to devote all of your time and effort to them, just as you would the actual thing. To view your score, just like on the actual test, you will need to sign into your College Board account. From there, you have the choice to examine an explanation of the correct answer and see each question, regardless of whether you answered it properly or not.

Can you thus utilize test-prep materials for the most recent SAT? Indeed! The digital SAT will have a different question structure, but the ideas and abilities will be examined in the same way. Additional materials are available to help you get ready for the redesigned SAT. Check out the College Board’s Linear Exams, Test Innovators, and Khan Academy.

What Doesn’t Change

Even though all of these changes could seem daunting and frightening, College Board has provided us with some tools to replicate some of the strategies test takers frequently use on the paper version. Even though you might not be allowed to write on a test booklet, you are still permitted to mark significant sections of the questions and mark out answers that you know are wrong. Additionally, at the conclusion of each part, there is a reminder to double-check your work and a feature that lets you flag questions to revisit for review.

Naturally, the ACT is trustworthy and hasn’t yet disclosed any upcoming changes. However, given the new SAT’s accessibility and time-saving features, I predict that today’s college-bound high school students will take to it quite fast.

Plans for preparing for college can be significantly impacted by significant changes in testing, particularly if there is a shortage of fresh study resources. At IvyWise, we’re already assisting students in figuring out how the new SAT will impact their test-taking schedules. We also offer advice on whether to take the new SAT or the ACT the following year. Find out more about IvyWise’s tutoring and test-prep programs, which may boost your SAT confidence and readiness.